Selection of antigen-specific cells by adherence to allogeneic cell monolayers: cytolytic activity, graft-vs.-host activity and numbers of adherent and nonadherent cells

Seminal plasma abrogates the postcoital T cell response to spermatozoal histocompatibility antigens

The T-cell responses to spermatozoal histocompatibility antigens were studied in the uterine regional lymph nodes of female rats by a specific cytoadhesion assay. The antigenic challenge was introduced either by artificial insemination with syngeneic or allogeneic epididymal spermatozoa or coitus. The uterine regional T-cell response to allogeneic spermatozoa following artificial insemination was measureable after 2 days and continued undiminished until day 5. In contrast, the measurable response to allogeneic coital challenge peaked on day 3 and disappeared by days 4-5. Since the difference between the two stimuli involved the presence of seminal plasma, these results indicate a possible immunoregulatory (suppressive) effect of seminal plasma on the cellular immune reaction of the female to the male alloantigens after mating.

A specific cytolytic T cell response induced by subcutaneous challenge with allogeneic rat epididymal spermatozoa

Groups of virgin female rats were killed on days 2-5 after footpad injection with either thoracic duct lymphocytes or epididymal spermatozoa from allogeneic male rats and the cellular response in the regional lymph nodes determined by the specific cytoadhesion technique. After challenge with both thoracic duct lymphocytes and epididymal spermatozoa a specific cytolytic T cell response to the male strain histocompatibility antigens was evident on the second day and increased until the fifth day. The weight and total lymphocyte content of the nodes were significantly greater than the unimmunized control values throughout the observation period. These results provide further evidence for the expression of histocompatibility antigens by epididymal spermatozoa.

New approaches to the management of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of high-grade pathology. First Gordon Hamilton-Fairley memorial lecture

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The selective adherence of lymphoblasts to antigenic cell monolayers. A method for determining the specificity of lymphocytes proliferating in response to histocompatibility antigens

The specificity and intensity of the immune response of rat lymph nodes draining a skin allograft were examined by exploiting a monolayer of donor-type thoracic duct lymphocytes as an immunoabsorbent. Stable monolayers were produced by attaching lymphocytes from different strains of rat to Petri dishes pretreated with poly-L-lysine. The responding lymph node cells were labelled in vitro with [3H]Thymidine, incubated on the monolayer and mechanically separated into non-adherent and adherent fractions. The radioactivity associated with the adherent fraction was 7--8 times greater when the monolayer displayed the immunizing major histocompatibility antigens than when syngeneic or 'third party' monolayers were used. The non-specific adherence to syngeneic monolayers was low and consistent. Immunization to minor histocompatibility antigens may also be studied by this method.